prevail
verb (used without object)
to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally.
had been prevailing
-
past perfect progressiveof prevail.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The royal party saw nothing of the excitement which had been prevailing in the city ever since the morning's event, an excitement which subsided at their approach.
From The Historical Nights' Entertainment First Series by Rafael Sabatini
And if most of the spectators were unable to make the ingenious remarks of Quartermaster Cornhill, the rumors which had been prevailing for three months were enough to keep all the tongues of Liverpool busy.
From The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Edouard Riou
The excited controversy which was being waged among theologians was but one sign of the general uneasiness that had been prevailing.
From The English Church in the Eighteenth Century by Charles J. (Charles John) Abbey
I had no need to envy him now, having better work on hand than his, but even if the mood of the midday had been prevailing, it would have disappeared before his hearty greeting.
From The Yeoman Adventurer by George W. Gough
A milder style of weather had been prevailing after the late snow-storm.
From The Knights of the White Shield Up-the-Ladder Club Series, Round One Play by Edward A. Rand
